Double-folding umbrella



Sept. '10, 1929. v K, o 1,728,062

DOUBLE FOLDING UMBRELLA Filed Oct. 23, 1928 Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES mzaeez KEISUKE ITO, OF TOKYO, JAPAN. I

DOUBLE-FOLDING- UMIBRELLAT Application filed October 23, 1928, Serial No. 314,495, and in Japan November 4, 1927.

My invention relates to improvements in double-folding umbrellas, parasols, etc., that is, those which may be double-folded for the purpose of reducing over-all length thereof to a compact andhandy form, thus enabling them to be carried conveniently when not in use.

One object of my invention is to provide umbrellas of the kind specified which may be easily double-folded when desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide the umbrellas with means for positively preventing them from becoming accidentally double-folded when in the stretched position.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for stretching the double-folded frame of the umbrella automatically when the stretchers are operated as usual.

A further object of my invention is to ob tain, by a simple construction, the umbrella as specified which can be extended, folded and double-folded in a very simple and convenient manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention will best be understood by the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a pre- 31) ferred form of mydouble-folding umbrella, partly broken away, in the extended or open state.

Fig. 2 is a view of one of the ribs and stretchers, and their associated parts when the umbrella is double-folded.

Figs. 3 and 4: are, respectively views, similar to Fig. 2, of successive states during the stretching operation.

Fig. 5 is a view showing one of the ribs and stretchers, as well as their associated parts, in the folded or single-folded position.

Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, are enlarged detailed views, respectively, of certain members shown in the preceding figures.

Referring now to Figs. 1, and 6 to 9 inclusive, my umbrella comprises a stick 1, a plurality of ribs 2 and stretchers 3, respectively radiating from the stick, and a suitable covering member l of silk or cotton cloth or the like, as usual. The ribs 2 are hinged or pivoted to the stick 1 at the upper end portion, as usual, by means of a suitable joint 4 which may be of any wellknown construction and will not need any particular description. The stretchers 3 are also operatively jointed to the stick 1 in a usual manner. By way of example, each stretcher may be hinged or pivoted to a hollow cylindrical member 5 mounted on the stick 1 and slidable up and down therealong.

The stick 1 consists of substantially three parts, that is, an upper part 6, a middle part 7 and a handle member which may be 'detachably secured to the lower end of the part 7 in a usual manner, but is not shown in the drawings as it does not constitute any essential part ofthe present invention and is well-known in the art. The upper part 6 and the middle part 7 may be secured to each other at their adjacent ends by any well-known jointing means, and may be folded double on each other at the joint when desired. In the drawings, the upper mem her 6 is shown as having. an extension 8 of a reduced diameter inserted into a hollow end portion of the middle member 7 and provided with two members 9 and 9 pivoted to its lower end successively. The member 9 has an elongated slot into'which engages a pin 7 extending within and secured to the middle part 7.

It will be obvious that when the reduced portion 8 is withdrawn out of the member 7 until the pin 7 (engages the lower end wall of the above-mentioned slot in the member 9" and stops the withdrawing, the member 6 is permitted to be folded on the member 7. However, such connecting means do not constitute any essential feature of my inven tion, and may be substituted by any other suitable construction well-known in the art.

The ribs 2 and stretches 3, the jointing means therebetween constituting the essential feature of my invention, respectively comprise main or inner parts 11, and 12, and supplementary or outer parts 13 and 14, respectively. The main parts 11 and 12 of every corresponding rib and stretcher are pivotally connected to the respective ends of a: link member as shown at 15 and 15".

The main part 11 and supplementary part 13 of each rib 2 are connected by a short link or intermediate part- 16, to the ends of which the adjacent ends, of the two parts 11 and 13 are pivotally connected respectively.

Thesupplementary part 14 of each stretcher is pivotally connected with the outer end of themain part 12 at one end, andwith the supplementary part 13 of the corresponding rib at the other or outer end. The outer end of a main part 12 may conveniently be formed to have a forked end as clearly shown in Fig. 8. A pivot pin or shaft 17 is provided at theouter end of the fork, and carries the inner end, of the supplementary part 14. The fork is alsoprovided with a. pair of lips 18, between whichthe pivot pin 15 is supported to connect. the member 15.

The supplementary, member 14 of each stretcher 3 has a substantially straight inner portion 19 and a curved or arcuate outer portion having a recessed upper face. Between the two portions 19 and. 20, is provided an upwardly projecting portion 21 which cooperates with the short link 16 as hereinafter explained.

In the stretched or open state of the umbrella, as shown in Fig. 1, the ribs 2 are held stretched by the combined action of the link members 15, stretcher members 12 and 14, and a key member 6, as will readily be understood. The key or locking memher 6 may be of any well-known construction.

WVhen the cylindrical member 5 is actuated. upwards beyond the open position shown in Fig. '1, the key 6' being man- I .tions 20 permitting this folding.

position of the parts shown, the umbrella is ually pressed and-released, the equilibrium of the link mechanismformedby the inembers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16' is lost, and the members 13 and 14erereleased and become free to be folded upwards as shown in Fig. 2, the recessed upperface of the por- In this in' itsdouble-folded state, and it is obvious that the umbrella can have a compact and themember .5 is actuated downwards along the stick 1, and may take an intermediate handy ,form convenient for carrying the same. i

In order to stretch or open the umbrella,

, position shownin Fig. 3. At this, position,

the-projections 21 are brought to vengage the lower face of; the short links 16. It must be noted that, until this position vis reached,

the projections 21 are out of engagement from the ribs, and'the link mechanism has been extended :by the pivot-s15 and 15".

After the projections 21 have engaged the short links 16, asthe member 5 is furtlier actuated downwards, the projections21 press the links 16 upwards and impede their operations of they relative rotation about their pivots 17, but

if the figure formed by the members 11, 15, 12 and 1 is further flattened by pulling down the member 5 alongthe stick 1, the links 12 and 14 begin to be foldedat the pivots 17 in the opposite directions, and the outer ends of the main parts 12 begin to be moved radially inwards,and accordingly to pull inwards the supplementary,- parts 14 and consequently 13, with the fulcra at the projections 21 which latter are also moved inwards keeping their contacts with the short links 16, and the parts then assume the folded or single-folded position as shown in Fig. 5. i

The member 5 may be actuated or pushed upwards along the stick 1 to open the umbreila, after the frame has assumed the position shown in Fig. 5, or any position intermediate between the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, where the links formed by the stretcher parts 12 and 14 assume such a state that the outer ends of the parts 12 pull inwards the members 14 and 13 as hereinbefore referred to. It will readily be understood that after such a position is reached, the upward movement of the member 5 transmits the force to the ribs 2, directly at their contact points with the projections 21, during the first stage, and then through the supplementary parts 14 after the projections 21 have disengaged from the ribs, whereby a positive stretching is effected with ;no hindrance.

In the open state, the 11161111361 5 may be looking member G in a-usual manner, and

the double-link system formed by the members 1, 11, 16, 13, 14, 12 and 15, is held in the stretched position shown in. Fig. 1.

j I claim as my invention:

1. An umbrella comprising a stick, a plurality of ribs radiating from and operatively connected to the upper end portion of said stick, each of said ribs consisting of an inner, an intermediate and an outer part operatively connected with one another successively,,a covering material over said ribs, a movable supporting member-on and slidable along said stick, a plurality of stretch- :ers radiating from and operatively .con nected to said supporting member, each of said stretchers consisting of'an inner part and an outer part operatively connected,

all)

thereto, and a connecting member operatively connected at the ends to the respective inner parts of each couple of said ribs and stretchers, each of said outer parts of the stretchers being formed by a substantially straight inner portion, an outer portion having a recessed upper face, and an up ward projection between said two portions for co-operating with said intermediate part of the corresponding one of said ribs.

2. An umbrella comprising a stick, a plurality of ribs radiating from and pivoted at the innermost ends to the upper end portion of said stick, each of said ribs consisting of an inner and an outer part operatively connected with each other by intermediation of a short link member pivoted at its ends thereto, a covering material over said ribs, a movable supporting member on and slidable along said stick, a plurality of stretchers radiating from and pivoted at the innermost ends to said supporting mem ber, each of said stretchers consisting of an inner part and an outer part operatively connected thereto, and a connecting member pivoted at its ends tothe outer end portions of the respective inner parts of each couple of said ribs and stretchers, each of said outer parts of the stre-tchers being formed by a substantially straight inner portion, an arcuate outer portion having a concave upper face, and an upward projection between said two portions adapted to engage a short link member for impeding the downward displacement thereof during predetermined stages in the stretching operation.

3. An umbrella comprising a jointed stick adapted to be folded midway, a plurality of ribs radiating from and operatively connected to the upper end portion of said stick, each of said ribs consisting of an inner and an outer part pivotally connected through a short link member, a covering material over said ribs. a movable supporting member on and slidable along said stick, a plurality of stretchers radiating from and operatively connected to said member, each of said stretchers consisting of an inner part and an outer part operatively connected together, and a connecting member operatively connected at its ends to the respective inner parts of each couple of said ribs and stretchers, each of said outer parts of the stretchers being formed of an inner portion, an outer portion having a concave upper face, and means, between said two portions, co-operating with said short link member of the corresponding one of said ribs, for preventing the same rib from being folded during the stretching operation of the umbrella.

In witness whereof I aflix my signature.

KEISUKE ITO. 

